Dale Gay

Dale went to be with the Lord on March 31st, just shy of her 91st birthday.

A celebration of her life will be held at Vorhis & Ryan Funeral Home 5501 Montgomery Rd., Norwood, Ohio 45212 on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025. Visitation begins at 5:30PM, followed by a service at 7:00PM.

To many, Dale was simply “Mom.” The title extended far beyond family — it came from how she cared. She was the kind of woman who made the world softer and stronger at the same time.

Born in Emmalena, Kentucky, Dale moved to Cincinnati after marrying the love of her life, Paul Gay, with whom she shared 57 years of marriage. Together, they ran City Furniture in Over-the-Rhine for nearly 40 years.

Her Appalachian roots and Southern hospitality ran deep. She loved Bluegrass music, Elvis, and Dolly Parton. Her couch was always open to anyone in need, as was her kitchen.

Her legacy is one that outlives her time on earth: to love. To know her was to know love in the most unconditional form. She showed up for others, and taught us how to show up for ourselves.

Dale is survived by her children, Donald Gay (Monica) and Sandy Levingston (Marty); her siblings, Bill Combs, Jerry Combs (Anna), and Wilhemenia Richie (Owen); her grandchildren, Katarina Kemner, Sie McNally (Emily), Annie Taylor (Shane), Jordan McNally, and John Mychal McNally (Tara); her nephews, Donald “Little Donny” Combs, Bill Combs, Jean Combs, and Sattice Combs; niece, Michelle Combs; Her Boys, Rick Toms, Greg Jones, Vince Spaulding, and Charles Tye; her dear friends Vicky Mitchell and Harp; her beloved dog, Chloe; and countless others who were touched by her love.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard Paul Gay; her parents, Bentley and Margaret Combs; her siblings, Lee, Ernest “Brother,” Clarence, Ruth, and Martha Combs; her nephew, Michael Combs; her niece, Sheila Combs; friend Ronnie Dick, and her cherished dog of 17 years, Mommy Dog.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Freestore Foodbank in honor of Dale’s love for cooking and her belief that no one should go without a meal: FreeStore